WASHINGTON — After steering Sea Launch into the hands of a new owner, chief executive Sergey Gugkaev will leave the company to look for a new role elsewhere in the space industry. Gugkaev has been CEO of Sea Launch since 2012, and oversaw the company’s attempt to reestablish itself after emerging from bankruptcy only two years earlier. Switzerland-based Sea Launch struggled to regain traction in the commercial market despite launching five times in 14 months between late 2011 and December 2012. A 2013 failure that destroyed a $400 million Intelsat…

When the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) selected Adelaide, Australia, as the site of its 68th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), many feared the worst. They worried the location would depress attendance, particularly for the many attendees from Europe and North America who would need to spend the better part of a day to get there. Those fears turned out to be unfounded. The IAC wrapped up a month ago with more than 4,500 attendees, a figure that the IAF’s president, Jean-Yves Le Gall, called “very outstanding.” The week-long event started with…

Having attended the International Astronautical Congress in Adelaide, Australia, I can attest to the country’s eagerness to join America in promoting space-based research. I can confirm this fact, not because of the enthusiasm of panelists and members of the press, but because of the words – and actions – of teachers, scientists and public figures who want to partner with America to explore the heavens. Australia Post is celebrating the 50th anniversary of Australia’s first satellite with the release of a new stamp issue. Australia is, after all, more than…